Hiking | Hiking Trail

Rätschenfluh – panoramic summit of the highest class

On the way to Rätschenfluh
Madrisa circular route
Below the Rätschenfluh with a view towards Drusenfluh and Sulzfluh
Rätschenfluh with view from the Gafierjöchle
Speichersee

Photo: Christina Wachter - Montafon Tourismus GmbH_Roland Fritsch

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Border between Gnais and Kalk
View from the Rätschenfluh towards Graubünden

Factbox

Difficulty: schwer
Distance: 11.43 km
Ascent: 848 m
Descent: 847 m
Duration: 5.5 h
Deepest point: 2107 m
Highest point: 2698 m
Condition:

Experience:

Landscape:

  • Höhenprofil

    An exciting route into Switzerland and a journey through geological history in the border region of Gargellen

    On this cross-border hike, you experience a breathtaking panorama. At the beginning, the Madrisa massif, from the Gafierjochle the Rätschenfluh, which lies directly in front of you. Impressive are also the views towards the Sulzfluh mountain massif or the Rätikon and down to St. Antönien.

    Here you experience geological history up close. You walk along the border between dark gneiss and light limestone. The younger limestone from the Penninic Ocean is overlain by older rock layers. During the folding of the Alps, this lower limestone layer was pushed upwards and exposed by glaciers and erosion.

    A short detour to the Rätschenjoch opens up a great view of the Saaser Alm

    Presented by: Montafon Tourismus GmbH
    Author: Array

  • Difficulty: schwer
    Condition:

    Experience:

    Landscape:

    		Altitude: 2698 m 2107 m Best season:
    JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
    JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
    Equipment:

    gute, knöchelhohe Bergschuhe mit gutem Profil, Sonnenschutz und  ausreichend Verpflegung und Getränke mitnehmen, Wanderstöcke zu empfehlen

  • Directions

    The route starts at the mountain restaurant Schafberg Hüsli in Gargellen. From here, follow the signs towards Gafierjoch. The hike leads us below the Gargellner Köpfe, past the Schafbergsee (reservoir pond), until after about half an hour we reach the Gafierjoch (2415 m) and cross the border into Switzerland. Now it goes downhill on the path towards Rätschenjoch (2602 m). At about 2300 m, the path then crosses to the left into flat terrain. Here you will find geological history to touch. Further along the border between the dark gneiss and the light limestone. Before the path steeply ascends left to the Rätschenjoch, follow the trail to the right to the summit of the Rätschenfluh. Over bright stone slabs and paths covered with scree, you reach the flat summit plateau of the Rätschenfluh from the fork in about 20 minutes. Return to the starting point on the same path.

    Start Bergrestaurant Schafberg Hüsli
    Coordinates:
    Geogr. 46.958 N 9.89697 E
    Destination Bergrestaurant Schafberg Hüsli

    Waypoints

  • Public transportation:

    Just leave your car behind

    Local buses operate throughout Montafon. The main lines run every half hour from Schruns station.

    Bus stop at the start/finish of the route: Gargellen Schafbergbahn/ Line 670

    Timetable: www.vmobil.at

    Arrival by train to Montafon

    From Bludenz station, the Montafonerbahn runs hourly (sometimes every half hour). There are also direct connections from Lindau (D) and Bregenz.

    Timetable: www.oebb.at

    Approach:

    Take the A14 to the Bludenz/Montafon exit and continue on Montafonerstrasse L188. Then turn right onto Gargellnerstrasse and follow it up to Gargellen.


    Route Planner

    Park:

    Parking lot Bergbahnen Gargellen (paid)